OREANDA-NEWS. BP announced today that it has been selected as the recipient of the 2014 C. Everett Koop National Health Award in recognition of its best-in-class health and wellness program for U.S. employees.

Each year, the prestigious honor is given to corporations that have shown unique success in positively influencing the personal health habits and cost-effective use of health care services by employees and their families. The award, named after a former U.S. surgeon general, is presented annually by The Health Project, an organization that seeks to identify, evaluate, promote and distribute information about such leading programs.

"BP America's efforts demonstrate that, when done right, evidence-based health promotion and disease prevention programs not only make workers healthier, they can also produce a positive return-on-investment," said Dr. Ron Goetzel, president and CEO of The Health Project.

The BP wellness program is offered to BP's approximately 20,000 U.S. employees and their dependents. To help boost enrollment, BP offers participants access to lower out-of-pocket-cost medical plans once they earn a minimum number of "points" for completing things like annual medical exams and wellness courses on a variety of topics. The program has options for employees across the fitness spectrum.

Since its inception in 2010, the BP wellness program has had measurable success on several fronts. More than 91 percent of incentive-eligible employees and spouses have participated in some aspect of the program each year it has been available. In addition, BP's overall health risks have been reduced by nearly 10 percent, far exceeding industry benchmarks.

"We're still making progress on this journey, but we are honored to be recognized for the success of our program thus far and for the commitment BP has made to the health and wellness of our employees," said John Minge, chairman and president of BP America.

The Health Project archives winning health and wellness programs on its website so that other corporations and community agencies may draw on them as a reference according to their own needs.

BP will be presented with the C. Everett Koop National Health Award on October 1, 2014, at the Health Enhancement Research Organization (HERO) Forum in San Diego, California.